The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-12-16
A CHRISTMAS CARD.
The Interesting Story of It's Per-
sonal Adventures.

"Well, l never!'
eff that doesn't beat ALLY
Such were the expressions that es-
capped the lips
But let me begin at the beginning.
am only Christmas card, it is
true; but | fiatter myself thataIr have
story to tell which is quite as inter
esting as any that very much more
influential member of society could I'M
fold My personal adventures are not
remarkable; but l have eyes of my
own-though no one ever suspected it,
perhaps-and am free to say that |
have always kept them wide open.
remember, as if it were but yester-
day--though, as a matter of fact it was
several years ago-when | was taken
out of my case, in company with a
score or more of others of my kind.
Tor the inspection of young woman,
whose dear, sweet face l remember
perfectly. She is, alas! no longer young;
those eyes of hers have lost something
Of their brightness, and the story of
years is too plainly written in certain
web-like lines which are fast making a
crazy-qullt pattern of q skin once pure
as polished marble and as soft and
cushiony us the ripe, rosy peach whose
complexion her own threw quite into
the shade. Yes, she has changed great
ly since that memorable day when first
we meti but, as for that matter, | don't
think any one but.a dealer, very anx-
lous to sell, could see any remains of
beauty in me,
AS soon as she spied me the young
woman paid me a compliment which,
fully believe, made me change color.
Then she paid the shopkeeper some
thing more substantial, to him, than q
compliment and folding me to her
breast she bore me away. As | lay
there Rugged up against her warm
jacket, listening to the gentle tappings
Of her sociable little heart on the other
side, as though it were congratulating
me on my good luck, ! was, oh, so
happy! and | couldn't help wishing
that she were relative of that peripa-
tetic Hebrew whose doom is to walk
the earth till time shall be no more,
and that the whole family, or at least
one particular member of it, were in
cluded in the penalty. But wishes will
be partial, and Christmas card is no
exception to the general rule.
When we got home, she and /, there
was some compensation for losing my
snug nest in her arms in being adj
mired, over and over again, by my
charmer; and my vanity was not q lit
tie elated when she showed me to her
mother, with the air of triumph which
one may rightfully assume who has
discovered treasure, though l could
not help feeling guilty of doing my en-
SLAYER II wrong in permitting myself to
be admired by any body bat her.
Well, after a little, was taken to
my owners room and placed on the
mantel; and, thinks l: ''How happy
shall be to stand here and watch the
dear creature as she sits by the Win
dow or moves about the floor, and how
proud to be permitted to guard over
her slumbers at night!' But, alas! |
was doomed to disappointment. l had
not been on the mantel half an hour be-
fore she took me down, slid me gently
into an envelope-I can still feel the
touch of her dainty fingers - and
scratching the name and address of
Charles Beauclerc on the back of the
envelope, sent me to the post-of1ice by
the hands of her maid. And very diff
ferent hands they were from those of
her young mistress! Those soft, white,
shapely; these hard, red, ugly. 1t al
most made me laugh, remember. not
outstanding my heart breaking disap-
pointment the way the mental carried
me, holding me most gingerly between
thumb and finger and at arm s length,
as though there were detilement in my
touch.
Charlie Beauclerc, in whose posses.
sion soon found myself, was one Of
those frank, hearty, generous fellow: